Metallurgical furnace



March 26, 1935. 1 D PUGH 1,995,941v

METALLURGICAL FURNACE Filed June 14, 1933 v 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 26,v 1935.

J. D. PUGH METALLURGICAL FURNACE Filed June 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 26, A1935 leerla ff METALLURGICAL FURNACEI Jqhnnrugh, Baltimore, Ma.l l. 1 'nppiiation June 14j, 193,3se'ria1'fiyo- 675,853v I q fumer-ED y:riolelaima (crees- 42) This. invention'4 relates` `to metallurgicalnfurnaces and particularly tomechanism forfacilitating the Atapping or discharging -of the vmolten contents of suchfurnaces. i

Throughout the metallurgical industry it has rheretofore been generally` eustomaryto-r retainV molten material Within furnaces. or other containers by plugs ofrefractory material such' asclay, material of` `this 'character being inserted into thefdischarge, oricesor Ptap holes `ofsuch furnaces i111 plastic Ycondition and thenv allowed to harden` sc asto form,1ineffect,gan integral por. ti'onof the furnace retainingwall. When itis desired to Withdraw the moltenimaterial lfrom theA furnace, the refractory plug mustbebr'okenrand removed, whereupon the metal flows freelyl through :the Atap hole, Ythe -ffloWl continuing until theY -molten materialhas 4Wholly escaped,y UFor' instance, this method Yof tapping4 has beenpracn:

ticed for many years past in connection With-blastv and open hearth furnaces, asisWell-known. `As isalso well-"known, the operation of removing a refractory plug from the tap hole of a blast or` openhearth 'furnace is an rextremely hazardous one Vdespite improved mechanism Whichhasfbeen provided the workers for this purpose. Considerable time lmust necessarily be, spent; in breaking up; the plug, theA workers are' under great tension,

and serious accidentsoccasionally occur.; ,Itis furthermore 'impossible'` to control the rate of:

' f lovvf of the ,discharging material through `the tap Y nated a valvemeehanismjor; controlling the dis-V chargelof molten materials from afurnace, Ysuchhole and likewise impossible to interrupt theflow' once itfhas begun, fshould -this be, desired.;

' rLhe presentinvention contemplates anim-iproved mechanism, which may be broadly desigf as a blast furnace or open hearthfurnacabr fori controlling the ,flowV of molten materialsffrom- A almost any type of container,r forsuch materialsinvwhich the molten material is maintained in freely oWing-condition. l s 1 1;v Broadly` considered,l the invention comprises,

mounted so as to have sliding relationship to a portion ofthe furnace or container wall inthe essentially avr movable valve` or` gate; member,

ingredients of the bathsin the kvicinity of the rtap hole, thus elevating the temperature of this por-1V tionof'the bath. While the inventionis ofgeneral applicability,

n it Willbe found particularly useful When employed ,5 f

inconnection with blast furnaces, and-for the4 purposel of-illustrationAV an embodiment* of the invention, designed vparticularly for use in con-i nection Withblast` furnaces,-will be ,hereinafter disclosed. Such embodiment is illustrated ini flO' the accompanying drawings, lin which: v

-Figure 1 is ra `vertical `axial section through,v

a blast fiunace to Which'the,noveldischarge conu trolmechanism has been applied;

FigureZ is a horizontal Ysection throughapori-;y .15]y

tion ofthe furnaceat' the tap hole and-lthroughthe flowcontrolling apparatusassociatedthere- -v `vvithy, 'v

Figure 3fisfa section Online 3`-3 of Figure 2;V AFigure Basis a similar section upon asomewhatfgo, larger Sealers: i l n l i Figure-4 isgasec on on line 4 4 ofFigure l;

Figures;` .5V-10, inclusive," aregrather diagrama matic illustrations showing the valve member iny various positions relatively to the tap hole, Fg- 25 I.

ures 5, 7, and 9 being horizontall sections through the tap holeandy associated Valve and Figures, 8,-and`l0fshowing theryalve device in front ele-v vation; f

Figure llis an enlarged :sectionalvielvvV offfa,r 30;: vdetail;and

Figure v12 'is an axial section through thev valve device Vshowing the improved means `for permitting direct visualinspection of themoltenrmatee; Irial within the furnace-at a point below the sur-1y 35; facefthereof.. L i Y 4 v The blastr furnace is indicated at 10, andl inas-`v muchlas it Aisnot in itself novel,1itsdetail,will not be specically set fort-h.: Itis provided with the ,usual charging means,tuyres, cinder notch,V 40. K

and tap hole, the tap hole Abeing indicated at l-l.V Y, The molten'iron which results from the smelting l and'reducing operations carriedv out inthe iur-vk v nace, of coursecollects at'the bottom of the shaft' or upon Ythe `floor of the furnace adjacent tlievtapY has been customary practice'to AobstructY -the'tap y Y i hole withY a clay plus which Wasauowestqjremolten metal collected at'the bottom 'ofrltheshaft f u and toV ,thereafter frmve thwsvkv plugby instru# mentsfapplied, eirternally, thus ffreeing vthe tap' holerand lperirritatingtheentire moltencontentsl orahebmstj furnace' toescape. Thereafter-a 55 45M! v hole 11;,'As hasbeenheretofore pointedmut; it s wfresh Aplug was reinserted andthe process conltinued, Y

In accordance with the present invention, a valve member, generally indicated at V, is associatedwithgthe furnaceat the tap hole, which member canbe manipulated by the attendantto open and close theitap hole as desired. The'furnace jacketis'indicated at V12, this jacket being builtup l*of metallic members,and the furnace"VV The tap hole 11 is Y formed partiallylin llinin'g113`and partially in a lining is indicated at Y13.

block 14 of material'such as.graphite, this block Y Y YCasing'18 supports interiorly thereof the valve V.

` ;Tlie valve V includes a `Irietallijc' drum `having acylindrical Wallf19 coaxial 'with casing v 18 and rotatably-supportedtherein on bearings comprising flange' 20, 'integraljwith the 'easing, andv an:y

nular angleme'mberZl secured thereto, the outer endofl drum 19 being closed by a circular disc'22. ,735i

. refraotoryfmaterial 23, `preferably o'f graphite,

Drumjl-Q carries- 'within it' a Icylindrical block of the inner face24of which isshapedtoclosely en-Y gag'ethe outerfface 15 of block 14,` and alsocar` riesintermediate block 23 land end'clsurer22 avr second body offrefractory "material,l indicated 'at 25; 53Extending through blocks123` "and 25 isf'a` A cylindrical port 26of substantially .thesa`.nie di= ameter Vasthe outer endfof tap hole ,11,- the 'con'` duit zebeiiig te one' side of theexis'erthe. valve member V s'orth'at, by rotating thisvalvemember within the casing Y18, conduit'26 may'lbe either Y' brought-inte register w'ithtaphele 11' te permit freeowof molten material'from the` furnace or Y may bfe'movedout f register with the tap hole,`

45#-L terminating this new' of material. i

VAlso f'in'ed in b1`0'Cl23`i'Sa passage 3010i'. ail",` theair-enteringfthis passageway after passing" through an opening 31 in the drum 19 and being conducted therebylinwardly and rearwardly to a f 'discharge orificeformed in 'the innerface 2401- thus Vclosing the tap hole and preventing 1 or this block. In one psitionof the block-23,'for

instance in the .position mywhich it is shown inY Y, Figures` 3, '5,` and', the dischargeorice of air channel'30 is closed: bythe stationary block idf.

yIn a second position of block 2 3,V however, thefdischarge portlof channel l30 r'egisterslwiththe end of a` short channel 32 .formedin thev faceof stationary block 14, which-channel turnc'ommunb cate'swith an annular channel 33 also formed in:Y

this .block andso located as to encircle the inner endof conduit 26 inthe valve member whenthat conduit ,has been moved to a position 180'from Vthet'aphole 1 1, as shown in, Figures VI7 and 8. In, a, third'possib1eposition of adjustment ofthe valve member, the discharge port vof the-"air channel is brought into `aligriment with the tap Airunder pressure fis conductedlto anf'apertu'r frmed in the wau'offcasins 1 8 byacempressed' air-conduit 34, andjtheair sosuppli'e'djisf under pressure .sufficiently great to; insurepassage fof the vairjinto the taphole and the ce into the bath o, of the furnace, against the 'staticpressureo the bath, When the -val've 'device turned tothepo'- sition in whichit is diagrammatically shown in Figures V9 and 710,' with* the aildischarge portop-f Y Vposite the tap hole. Air under suchpressure'isV` o j always maintained in theannular space inter-y mediate drum 19 and casing 18, and suitable packing devices are provided to prevent its escape.

Preferably the end Vdisc 2 2and drumv 19 are 1 formed in one piece as shown,v and, whereithese members join, anV external annular `groove isV formed within which rests. ther4 inner edge of an annular collar indicated at 22'. Collarf '22r is' perforated for Vthe passageof a plurality of bolts 3i-having heads 36 positioned in the Vannular space intermediate casing 18 and drum 19, helical springs?? encircling ,the bolts respectively, each" spring having one end abutting against the asso` ciated bolt head 36 and its other end abutting `against theann'ularr angle member 21"thro'ug h` `which the, bolts slidably extend. :The springs 37 are kept under compression, and the thrust which each exertsmay be regulatedby `'adjusting the-externarnut 3s en the 'einer the fbolt ass ciateditherewith. 'Itis the lfunction ofthe mech-v anism just describedto exertvaninward pullatj all vtimes/upon the valve `'memberv tov insure that its inner convex face24 tightlyjeng'ages the outer i f concave face 15 of plug 14.

. .It wm beneted that the eeeing1a!"i'refineswithY the cylindrical outer surfacesof blocks S14 'aii'd23- i Yj snr adjacent` the mutually abutting i'aces: of these blocks,- aii `annular pocket39. VIn this; pocketr is maintained a body-of pulverulent materialiwhichf may be introduced iri the formo! `apastethrough an` aperture 40and whichmaterialfis thereafter y 35 dried by\heat, the moisture escapingthrough this same channel. VIt is the function of ythe pulve'rulent materialein" chamberigtoiprevent the escape of any`rnol'te'nmaterial which-might tend.V to leak' n (outwardly between the :contacting surfacesfof 0v- 14 li Vkept under `constantpressure by the -acvtionof the' i compressed air `trapped intermediategdrum 19 i blocks141and`23. V' I'his pulveru'lent material is and casing 18, an annularring 41 whichje'ncircles block 23` being-located at v the outerend of V'pocket- V39 and :air 'under pressure havingraccess tothe outer-face Aof lthis annular ring through ductsz`42.

flormedin flanges` 20=of`casing 18j? If desired, the pulveruleiit materialy may be dispensedfwith andseepa'ge or leakage of molten material into pocket 39 prevented only-by:compressed air,. `vvhic'zh-isV kept vat `a Dressuresliliciently high to accomplish1- this function; 1

Any suitable means maybe chosen for eiectih'gf rotation ofthe drum; 'but :1 preferably provide' a power mechanism such fas Y* illustrated in f 52 whiehgextendsi through a 'suitable Y peeking) glandV 53 into a` c'ylin'drically shaped housing`i54 'v 1 onthe `drum axially? thereof but is nevertheless 'att` n all times constrained t0 rotate Withthe' drum."

The motor 50 iS reversibls that, by the manip- A ulat-ion of the customary switches, thevalvejde-E y vicefV maybe rotated to anyfdesiredposit'io'of adjustment `At its `ouierenvgl, conduit 26passs' through avc'ylind'rical extension 5 9-o1'- end disc 22;`

the outer edge of extension'59 bei-ng#positioned in aninclinedplaneso that, when the valvedevic'el V-ifsturned'from the position in which it is shown Figure 2jtothelposition'iin' which yit is sli'vi'rnI the outer endof-jthe tubular-extension 59.

in- Figure 11, and 'it is'thegfun'ction'ofl coverfplate` 60 to close the outer endfoficon`duiti126- against the escape of compressed air which 1mightf1eak intothis conduit at its inner end.- FAS-will be 4appreciated froman inspectionof Figure-11gthe closure disc 60 is mounted tov have a-Jslightfuniversal movement relative tofthe-bracket'Glfso thatl it -It is apparent-fromv the-above-description that tively `movable' parts'-"of-^the mechanism is-well guarded*against. Thefseal of pulve'rulentY-mate-f rial in the cavity-'39, which is 'kept' under icon stantf compression by the pressure of ith'e' air-against ring-,41, prevents -escape ofsuch?`- material from between the abutting' faces vofY the-'blocksfand in the' vicinty Ioffth'e taphole'.v f Thus, loyfturningf'. the valve'device V ntothfepositiondiagrammatf Y this bath will b eoxidiezedya when' the'valve member-Vlisin the sitionyshcnwn1 of compressed- Figures 1 arida the' .Presi air ,in the groove 33, lwhich `enc1rclesconduit`- prevents leakage ofmetalfrofif'tfieftap hele'Pl'.lA

tofconduit 26. The/airis xnaint'ainedunder'pres'"r sure solong alsVV ,the 'furnace is jin ust-rand,l a

heretofore been pmtrediqut; Yn lay be utilize-d vto maintain 11.11 'highly liquid .Q Odiies the molten material vwithin Vthe furnace structure whichjjlies iCally-ShQWn v Figures Laird, l .a desire into the metallic han;

temperature raised.` a` operation vrnayQbe rcarried, o limited extent, or air introduc v A I y v e may be intended for rning purposesv only.A It'l will be obvious 'also' that somefbther gasjfrnight be substituted for' airwin'the '4 event "that certain' refiningl operations are' tbibecarried 'out'.1

The 'metal `may' 'be discharged conveniently into the customary-runner indicated at rI0 in Figures 1 and 4 and, -by means of the runner, may be conducted to a: ladle, hot metal car, molds, or the like. By the use of a valve mechanism constructed in accordance With'the invention, it is possible to effect the release-of the molten contents of a furnace or other container in a minimum of time and without the slightest danger to the operator, who may be positionedY at a distant point. Should a small portion of the bath by any chance solidify in the tap hole,

the valve device can be turned to the position in which itis shown in Figure 2 and the customary opening operation'by means of a blow` torch carriedy out. The invention may vbe `utilized in conjunction with numerous types of furvber having means for introducing air or other Y and the other end of which is provided with an eye piece comprising a transparent disc" *'71 of glass or the like and a perforated retaining plug 72. The lfurnace operator, by placing his eye adjacent the aperture in plug '72 and in alignbetween-ther blocks 14 and`23, at theouter edgesof their mutually contacting surfaces, at allftir'lie's. The springs 37 maintainrelatively tight contact'v member,.and meansforr ment with;y the tubular..aperture-7`0, mayvlook n directly: atthe: metal onnthe hearth ofthe-furnace, the entire view aperture ,being maintainedv clear r of metalby the r.actionl of the compressed air. l-Obviously a' viewin'gdevice of this kindfmay be applied to any kindof furnace wherever-compressed airf-is available for the purposev ofA main'-I taining the Aviewing aperture clear. fof-L metal' and as shown.

therefrom in #adapting the 'sameto various .typesv of "furnaces and containers. employed in 1 the' metallurgicaliield Havingfthusfdescribd the invention, what vis! to besecure'djibyf claimed as new-'and desired Letters P'atent'is: 'f

K "211 A containerf for molten. material havingua'- discharge aperture formed in the wa'llthereof and means-for controlling the yflow .of moltenemateinga supporting casing, a valvefmember Inovabl'y sup-'portedv `within the casing and having an aperture which may be brought intoxor movedv rial through said aperture, 'said Ymeans compris-*- out of Vregister Awwith'itheaforesaidA discharge-- aperture,`- meansl e member' in close engagement 'with the wall ;4 of-` the container at all timesgand means `for maintaining a body? of compressed 'air ybetween, the. container walland valve memberand intermediate thecontainer and valvef'apertureawhen said apertures areoutof .register,toprevent passage of -.molten'=rnaterial, therebetween.-

f 2:' The combination with a contanerfor .nmol-' K ten material having: a; discharge port, a ported valvelnember slidably bearing againstv'vthe-container-fwall-aydjacent.the said discharge port, av Y compressed .air Vchannel n 1 l formed in .one bfyfthe Y utually abutting faces of Qsaid container",and' n Y maintaining air 'under for .maintaining said valve pressureinsaid channel' to-p'r'event passagefof moltenfmater'ial between saidl faces. f'j

" ,3J The combinationwith a containerhaving a discharge port' or a steamy mounten-,ported valve, 1

member'which may be into register or out of register, and means for maintaining air under pressure-in the port yof said valve member when said ports are outof register.

` 4. The combination with a container having a moved to :bring lsaid -ports discharge port, of `a slidably mounted ported valver member which may be moved to bring said ports into register or out of register, and Ineansrfor maintaining air under pressure inf the port ofsaidvalve ymember when'said ports are out of register, said meansv including a closure for the outer endof the port in said valve member, which closure is mounted upon the container.

5. The combination with a container having a discharge rport of Ya slidably mounted valve member in constant contact therewith, said memgas under pressure into saiddischarge port when moved to one'position of adjustment.

6. A container for molten material having a memberrevoluble about an axis offset from the ,tap hole and having an aperture which may be brought into or out of register with said tap holek l by rotation of saidmember, said member having at all times sliding engagement with the con- Y tainer wall, means normally urgi'nlg'jsaid againstthe wall of ithe containerY tofmaintainat; all Vtimes close engagement of said Lin'emberiand Wall, a chamber encircling said member; the:in` terengag'ing faces of the ,memberfand Wallv being Y soiockated at 9.11 timee relatively tothe chamber that any moltenv material leaking outwardlyibe` tween said faces would'enter said chambeigand Y .:meansWithinsaidlchamber toA resistr'sucli leak-i io age.Y i i V' 7. A container for :molten material liavinga` discharge aperturethereinxzand-aV valve mecha-`- nism forvcontrolling vthe `flow ofmolten material,r through said aperture,i. saidvalve ,comprising a member revoluble about' axis. oiset from lthe tap hole and having anaperturegwhichV mayber brought into" orout of .register with said-taphole byirotation ofsaid membensaidmember rhaving 18. Av container for'zmolten material having-Ya discharge aperture. therein andi af; valvemech'a- 5 nism for con-trolling the flow Vof* `n iolte'n'material'v Y through fsaid aperture-,i said .valvezcomprisingl `aj member revoluble about an axis'@offsetfromtl'xe;v

,tap -holeand having an apertrfewhich-m'ay bef- Y brought into o'rlout *of 'registergwithfsaid tap hole byrotation of said member; said member having Vat all times sliding engagement-With thzclii tainerfwall, means normallyurging'said'member against the wan of the' container to maintain at allV times close engagement ofs'aid niemlae'fantlV WalLa chamber encircling said membenthe :itil .tere'ngaging faces ofthe member vandwallbeirfgA f'so` located at allftimes relatively to the chamber that any molten material' leakingoutwarrdly ybetween saidfacesfwould entersaid chamber; and? r 1,095,041" e s a t safelyv prima pear-of. pavement matriel, 1n:

`said chamberxtoresistfsuchleakage.

9. @container ior,mb1ten materialfhaving f discharge` aperture thereinand a valve mecha,- nixsml for controilinglthenow of molten materialthroughsaid faxzverture, saidV valve comprisingfa Y member re'voluble aboutY axis Aoffset fromV the` tap hole ndhavingxan'anerture which may. be

brought into, oroutgorregisterfwimsaid tap no1@ by rotation or; saidf nm'emberJ seid. ,member having.k at all times slidingvengagement with the container wall; mean normallyeurams,saidgmemberrasainst. Y

the wall of the container-tomaintainat alltimesjj close -vrensesement `Qt `,Said member, andgwall.; a Y

chamber encircling saidinexnber,` the interengagj-v.' invece@ 0f the member' .and walking, S9110- Catedil. 11 HES relaiiilllfitq the'hlivlbe that; any molten materialelekinsautwrdlylbeiween Said feceewould'bnter `wid;chembar,.aibpdyef pulverulent material in saidchambenand means forvmaintainingsaidpulverulent materialgunderf` Y pressurefor thepurposegofpreveting such leakr., *1.9! .Aewnwaerf for. mqtenimierialhavmz 'discharge aperture thereinjand a'valvejmjecha-y nismjor .controllingA iow of molten ,materialv through said-a taphole aid'ghayingfan aperture which mayibef by Vrotation of said member, said :member hav;

yingfat all times lligag'emen"AV heCOn- @einer well; .ming said theater.v against' the wall of kthe container yftof,mailitiaginlat' all tiilelse nES-lif 0I" Said ,vll'lerf and* wall; ha' i chamber enciifclixi'gA saidfmember, the inf tere'ngaging faces of `the berend Wall lbeir'fl so. 'located at all 'ltim tively to 'the'l chamberV tween said faces;would entery said c haniber,A 'a body of pulveruleiit'inaterialin said chamber,` a movl-,

40' Y abre piston-nice;iiixbefiwithmsaid chamberandw havin'gjone' side'. bear'ingqiuponi material, land j 

